Morning journal and courier., 1887-09-30

gait peculiar to sailors, came strolling down the street just as the snowman, out of pa- tience, struck the poodle sharply with his bow, shouting, "Jump, Cupid, jump, I say, or thou It get naught but blows for thy sup per-"
 The stranger who was passing-the cap.- tain of an American vessel lying in the port animals piteous appearance, stopped beside the gaudy little stage.
 "I declarei" he exclaimed. "the dogs half Christian; he knows enough to be ashamed of his business. I don't blame him.'' "He's regular good-for-n nothing, Mon sieur!" cried the snowman. "A pretty fel- low, as you see, and clever too, no doubt of that, but he's of no use to me. He'll never make dancer. I've worked hard for three months to train him, but twas mere waste of time. Look at him now, with his tail between his legs, trying to sneak away. He's more trouble than all the rest put together. He's not worth feeding. Bah, villain Gu pidl"
 "What will you take for hims' asked the captain suddenly. ''If he's so unpromising pupil as you say l suppose you won't be sorry to get rid of him?"
 "Ah Monsieur wants to buy hims Yes, a fine dog, beautiful animal for a gentlea mans pet. as Monsieur sees,'" replied the snowman, instantly ready to drive sharp bargain. But, as he was really anxious to dispose of the poodle, which, despite the many good qualities suddenly discovered and vaunted by his owner, had evidently not been destined by nature to shine in his pres ent profession, price was soon fixed; and Captain Pereival, lifting the dog from the stage, said kindly, ttThere, poor fellowl" and set him gently on the sidewalk.
 Then Cupid danced for joy, leaping into the air to lick his new masters hand, career ing around and around him in circles, roll ing over and over at his feet. The liberated animal parked and wagged his tail till it seemed as if he were really trying to jump out of his skin in his effort to express his gratitude to his friend who had rescued him from misery.
 Captain Percival took Cupid to his ship. Soon after the poodle crossed the sea and ere long became welcome pet in his new mas ters home. But when the captain sailed on his next voyage the poor dog grieved so sad ly, and greeted his return with so many frantic demonstrations of delight, that his kind hearted owner, batting the silky head, said that on his next trlp-a voyage to India, Cupid should certainly noab be lJfrt behin1
 Well for the captain that he made the promise! The passage was long and stormy, part of his crew siekened in Calcutta, and on reaching Lisbon he was shor5-handed and found hi1nseie els2isad to fill the places of the missir,z-ntsHse4.n Portuguese and Italian sailors-a desperate-looking crowd. Many vessels had lately stopped at the port to fill up their crews, able-bodied seamen were scarce, and on the last morning of his stay Captain Percival still lacked one man of his number. He was sitting in his cabin writing letter when a shadow fell across the page, and Cupid, who was lying at his feet, sud denly growled. Looking up, he saw tall, powerful fellow with low, beetling brow, black eyes, sleek, straight, black hair and a villainous expression of countenance.
 The sailor said thai ha yUiSha6 to on In America, and hearing that another man was wanted on board the vessel, ke had come to ship for the voyage. The captain hesitated, but the Portuguese handed him recommends tions stating that the bearer was a strong fellow and 8 thorough seaman; so, as the vessel only had to make the run across the Atlantic to Boston, Captain Percival finally decided, though with extreme reluctance, to take him.
 Cupid was a dog given to strong likes and dislikes. He seemed to share his masters unfavorable opinion of the newcomer, for he growled and showed his white teeth when ever Jose came near him; but, like a wise animal, he warily kept out of the sailors way, and never gave him chance to execute his oft muttered threats of dire vengeance on "the captains cur"
 The homeward voyage was stormy one. Head winds and gales drove the vessel out of her course and taxed the patience of crew
 
 deck, and making the men discontented be- cause of the extra labor entailed upon them. Jose, though outwardly perfectly respectful and even subservient to the captain and mates, was always ready, when out of their hearing, to complain of the hard work, and to hint that the officers might make it easier if they cared for the comfort of their men. By every means in his power, as was after ward discovered, he endeavored to increase the dissatisfaction already prevailing among the motley crew.
 At last when the ship was midway across the Atlantic, after several unusually tempest uous nights, the wind lulled toward evening one day, and Captain Percival, leaving his ship in charge of the first mate, went down to his cabin to take the rest he so sorely needed. Hardly had his head touched the pillow when he fell asleep.
 But almost immediately, as it seemed to the weary man, he was reused by Cupids leaping on the berth
 "Down, Cupid!' he murmured sleepily, pushing the faithful dog away and settling himself to slumber again. But the animal reused him second time.
 'tDown, Cupid!' he ordered sharply, and the poodle, with a low whine, crouched on the cabin floor. But the captain had scarcely closed his eyes before the dog was again at the side of the berth; and now his master was unable to quiet him.
 Surprised by the persistence of the usu- ally docile animal, the captain sat up and listened. All was still he heard nothing but the wash of the water against the sides of the vessel as she plunged onward through the surging seas. Cupid ran to the table where the captain had put his pis- tols, and raising himself on his hind legs, seized one in his mouth, brought it to his master and laid it at his feet. Just at that moment there was faint sound overhead as if men were scuffiing on deck. Cupid growled fiercely and ran toward the cabin door. His master hastily grasped his pistols and rushed up the cabin stairs, the dog fol- lowing close at his heels.. An instant more and he would have been too late. Just as he reached the deck the mate, stunned by vii olent blow, fell heavily, and two dark forms glided stealthily towards the stairs. There was no time to barley. Without moments pause the captain fired at the foremost, and the dusky figure, reeling forward, sank at his feet It was the Portuguese, Jose.
 "Help, men, help!" shouted the captain; and at the sound of the familiar voice his own faithful sailors rallied around him; the second mate joined them, and the mutineers, discouraged by their leaders death and the failure of the surprise they had planned, yielded after a short struggle.
 After this exploit, as may be imagined, never was dog more petted and praised than Cupid. Nor did his master ever again leave him behind when he made a voyage. The captain's tall, erect form and the pretty snow-white poodle trottlng by his side be- came almost as well known in sunny Lisbon, bustling Havre, smoky Liverpool, and even fiery Calcutta as in the streets of Boston.